LAKE OSWEGO, OR, FEBRUARY 5, 2026—The Portland Business Journal has named its annual Executives of the Year, spotlighting exceptional leadership across the region. Among this year’s honorees were Aldrich’s Josh Axelrod, Chief Operating Officer, and Lucas Zettle, Chief Financial Officer, recognized for their impactful contributions to Aldrich and the greater business community.
“Having both Josh and Lucas recognized as Executives of the Year is a powerful reflection of the caliber of leadership we have at Aldrich,” said John Lauseng, CEO + Partner of Aldrich and a Portland Business Journal CEO of the Year in 2023. “Their work embodies our mission to improve the lives of our people, our clients, and our communities. This recognition is well deserved and a tribute to the impact they’ve made across our organization.”
Together, Axelrod and Zettle exemplify Aldrich’s commitment to thoughtful leadership and forward-looking strategy. Their recognition by the Portland Business Journal reflects the values and vision that drive Aldrich’s continued success.
Josh Axelrod | COO Honoree
As Chief Operating Officer, Josh Axelrod has been instrumental in charting a course for long-term success at Aldrich. This strategic clarity has fueled a surge in referrals, enhanced visibility in the marketplace, and strengthened revenue growth. Axelrod has also advanced operational agility by introducing a three-tiered service model that has cut the firm’s time-to-value ratio by 35% and significantly reduced proposal turnaround time.
“Josh is a rare leader who can both design the blueprint and build it,” said John Lauseng. “He has also instilled operational discipline, ensuring that our most ambitious ideas don’t remain ideas but turn into measurable results while also strengthening Aldrich’s reputation in the market.”
As President of Aldrich Solutions, Josh leads a team that delivers business and technology consulting services driven by industry understanding and strategic insights to help organizations of all sizes achieve their goals, from owner-led businesses to large enterprises. Most recently he led Aldrich Solutions’ acquisition of Summit Security Group, enhancing the company’s cybersecurity services.
Lucas Zettle | CFO Honoree
Lucas Zettle, CFO + Partner, has served as a strategic anchor at Aldrich, bringing sharp financial discipline and clear communication to his role as Chief Financial Officer. Under his stewardship, the firm has enhanced its risk management posture and ensured robust compliance across regulatory fronts.
“Lucas has a rare ability to blend strategic foresight with practical execution,” said John Lauseng. “Lucas has guided Aldrich through changing market conditions with a steady hand, always keeping our long-term vision in focus. He is also deeply committed to developing the next generation of leaders, and his mentorship has fostered a culture of accountability, curiosity, and collaboration.”
Zettle’s ability to harness technology has delivered operational efficiencies and business insight. His initiatives have shortened reporting timelines, enabled real-time performance dashboards, and strengthened the firm’s financial forecasting capabilities, empowering Aldrich to make faster, data-driven decisions.
About Aldrich
For more than 50 years, Aldrich has worked with businesses, their owners, and their employees to help them achieve their professional and personal financial goals. We pair deep industry experience with a full suite of integrated financial, tax, accounting, wealth, corporate retirement, and business transition services to help bring clarity to every phase of our clients’ personal and professional life cycles.
The Aldrich group of companies is composed of Aldrich CPAs + Advisors LLP, one of the top 70 accounting firms in the US; Aldrich Wealth LP, a Registered Investment Advisory firm with over $7 billion in assets under advisement; Aldrich Capital Advisors LP, which provides advisory services for business transactions; and Aldrich Solutions LLC, which delivers business and technology consulting services driven by industry understanding and strategic insights.
Based in Oregon since our founding in 1973, Aldrich now serves clients across the country from our eight offices throughout the Western US.
Learn more at www.aldrichadvisors.com/about.
